An Evaluation of Community Participation in the Preparation of a Forestry Environmental Impact Assessment

Abstract

The community consultation process (CCP) associated with the preparation of the Morisset Forestry District Environmental Impact Statement (MFDEIS) was evaluated as a case study. The aims of this study were to assess the strengths and weaknesses of the CCP in fulfilling participant expectations and to recommend ways of improving the CCP to better meet participant expectations. An open inquiry process was used to derive a list of Community Consultation Group (CCG) expectations (evaluation criteria). Expectations were identified as either pertaining to CCP implementation (process) or final achievements (outcome). An audit review of the open inquiry evaluation criteria was also conducted. Evaluation tools, both qualitative and quantitative, included self-completion questionnaires, personal and focus group interviews, market research, observation and record-keeping. The open inquiry revealed more than seventy process and thirteen outcome expectations relating to the performance and accountability of the agency planners, the community consultation group and individual participants. Process expectations included issues of professionalism, accountability, equity, opportunity, representation, time, interaction, data availability, balance, transparency, flexibility and involvement. Outcome expectations, on the other hand, incorporated issues pertaining to mutual education, networking, lobbying success, protection of vested interests, public support for the EIS and CCP value.